REVIEW: "Mockingjay Part 2' starts strong, disappoints in second half

By Adam Pilskog

After three books and four films, we finally bid adieu to everyone's favorite bow-wielding heroine, Katniss Everdeen. I will spare you the book-versus-movie comparison, but will say the film has quite a bit in common with other recent epic finale attempts; fantastic action, satisfying resolution, but a bit long-winded and melodramatic on the back end.

When the first Hunger Games came out in 2012, it became the next "Harry PotterGÇ¥ in terms of low-risk, bankable box office success, and sparked an industry frenzy of imitators; "The Lightning Thief,GÇ¥ "Divergent,GÇ¥ "Maze Runner,GÇ¥ "Ender's Game,GÇ¥ "the Giver,GÇ¥ and the upcoming "the Fifth Wave.GÇ¥ There is something about the young adult sci-fi dystopian future that is like catnip for the target demographic, which by my calculation, is just about everyone. Don't lie, you know you love these movies.

The film picks up where "Mockingjay Part 1GÇ¥ leaves off, in the middle of a revolutionary war, with the wealthy being overthrown by the proletariat. Propaganda, terrorism and class wars make for an almost uncanny commentary on our current political climate. Suzanne Collins, you visionary, you. Katniss and her band of elite friends and warriors must infiltrate the capitol to remove the evil President Snow from power, to finally end the war and return power to the people.

This is where the film finds its rhythm and success. The elaborate traps the game makers litter throughout the city make for a dangerous maze with deadly consequences and heightened tension, because as we all know, all bets are off when it comes to a finale. Any of the characters are fair game to be killed off, and (spoiler alert), many are.

The second act falters greatly, however. After the climax, there is the obligatory wrapping up of the story that goes on for so long, I thought Peter Jackson might have been involved in the film. At well over two hours long, it seems as if the two Mockingjay films were dragged out just so they could double the profits. Smart move for the studio, but not so great for the paying audience. It would have made a fantastic single movie, but there's just too much excess fat in a 5-hour finale that honestly should have been trimmed.

Jennifer Lawrence has evolved beyond this character, but she was locked in from the start and is certainly getting paid well for this franchise. She is keeping herself busy with next month's Oscar-bait biopic, "Joy,GÇ¥ and projects with Steven Spielberg and Darren Aronofsky on the horizon, as well as another "X-MenGÇ¥ film and a curious science fiction story called "Passengers,GÇ¥ with Chris Pratt.

Francis ' no relation ' Lawrence is a fantastic director with a bright future in the action genre. The man behind "Constantine,GÇ¥ "I am Legend,GÇ¥ and the final three "Hunger GamesGÇ¥ films is in strong command of his work. His action scenes are thrilling and suspenseful, and there is a dark edginess to his craft. There is a scene in the sewers below the capitol that is eerily reminiscent of the "AliensGÇ¥ films; claustrophobic, dark, perfectly timed sound effects and red herring moments that make you jump. This is the Francis Lawrence I want to see more of in the future.

Philip Seymour Hoffman's last film role is unremarkable as Plutarch Heavensbee, the former game maker turned rebellion leader, but his presence is noticed. It's always difficult seeing an actor on screen after their death, and like Robin Williams' "Boulevard,GÇ¥ there is a heartfelt feeling that he will be missed.

"Mockingjay Part 2GÇ¥ was precisely what I was expecting, but the first half impressed me and the second disappointed. It's time to move on to the next franchise du jour. What will it be? Blood Red Road? Delirium? Legend? Pure? Only time will tell, but there is limitless material out there, and with it we might see the next Jennifer Lawrence. Parting is such sweet sorrow, Katniss.

7 out of 10